A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
