A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
