An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down 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 youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
