A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.
