A person who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
