A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
