A person who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
