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A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.

She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.

Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".

She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.

She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.

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

Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.

She said the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

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

The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.

The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.

She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five minors.