An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
