A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
