An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
