An individual who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
