A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
