A person who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
