An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
