A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
