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A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.

The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.

Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.

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

Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.

She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.

Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.

She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.