A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
