A man who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
