A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors 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 one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
