A person who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
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 disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
