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An individual who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.

She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.

The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.

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

The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.

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

Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.

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

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

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.

Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities again.

She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.