A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
