A person who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
