An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
