A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
