A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
