An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
