A person who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
