An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
