A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
