A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.