A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
