A person who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
