A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
