A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters 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 detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
