A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
