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An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.

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

The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.

The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.

She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.

Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.

"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."

The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.

She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.

"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.

Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.

She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.