A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
