A person who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
