A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
