A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
