A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
