An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the police once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
