An individual who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
