A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
