An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
