A person who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police once more.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
