An individual who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
