A man who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
