A man who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
