A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
