A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
