An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
