A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
