A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
