A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
