A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
