An individual who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
