A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
