A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
