A person who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
