A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
