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An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.

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

The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.

She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.

The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.

She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.

The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.

"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."

The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.

She explained the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.

The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.

She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.