A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
