A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
