A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
