An individual who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
