A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
