A person who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
