A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
