A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
