An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
