An individual who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said 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 added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
