A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
