An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
