A person who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
