A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
