A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police again.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
