A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
