A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
