A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
