An individual who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
