A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
