A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
