A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
