A man who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded 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 youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
