A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
