A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
