A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
