A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
