An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
