An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She explained the man continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
