A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
