A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
