A person who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
