An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
