A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five children.
