A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
