An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
