An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.