A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police again.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
