A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
