A person who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
