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An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.

The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

The accused was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Candy game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.

She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.

The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.

"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."

The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.

She said Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.

Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.

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