A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
