A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
