An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
