A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
