A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
