An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
