An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "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 capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the police a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
