A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
