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A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.

The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.

However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.

She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.

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

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.

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

The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.

She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.

The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.

She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.