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A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.

The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.

She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.

The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.

"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."

The legal counsel explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.

She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that time," she added.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.

The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.

She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.