An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
