A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied 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 late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
