An individual who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
