A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
