A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
