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A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.

The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.

The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.

The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.

"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.

She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.

The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.

She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.