A person who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
