A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
