A person who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor 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 Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
