An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
