A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
