A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
