A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
