An individual who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
