A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
