A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
