A man who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the police once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
