An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
