A person who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
