An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
