A person who spiked treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
