A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
