An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
