A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
