An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
