A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel 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 quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
