A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived 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 said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
