An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
