An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
