A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities again.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
