A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
