A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
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 refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
