A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
