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A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.

The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.

Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.

Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.

The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.

"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.

She said the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.

She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.