A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
