A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
