A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
