A person who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
