A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the police once more.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
