A person who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
