An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
