A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
