An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
