An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.