A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
