A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access 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 the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
