A person who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
