A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
