An individual who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
