An individual who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
