An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
