An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
