A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
