A man who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
