A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location 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.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
