A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
