A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
