An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
