An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
