An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
