A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
