A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
