A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
