A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
