A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police again.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
