A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
