A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
