A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
