A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
