A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
