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A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.

The accused was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.

However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.

She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.

The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.

The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.

"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.

She explained the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.

Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more.

She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.