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A man who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.

The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.

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

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.

The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.

The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.

"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.

She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.

"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.

The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police a second time.

She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.