A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
