An individual who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
