A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
