A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
