An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
