An individual who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
