A person who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
