A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
