A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
