A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
