A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
