An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody 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 stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
