An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
