A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
