An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
