A person who laced treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the police once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
