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A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.

The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.

She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.

Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.

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

Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.

She said the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.

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

The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.

She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.