An individual who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
