A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
