A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
