An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges 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 against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
