A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
