An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
