A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
