A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
