An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
