A person who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
