A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
