A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
