A person who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
