A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the police once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
