A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
