A man who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
