A man who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
