A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told 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 the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
