A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
