A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
