An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
