An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
