A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
