A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
