A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
