A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
