A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
