A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police again.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
