A man who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
