A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
