A person who contaminated 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 nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
