A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five children.
