A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge 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.
'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 conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
