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A person who laced candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.

The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.

She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.

The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".

She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.

She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.

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

"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She stated the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.

She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.