An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
