An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
