An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
