An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
