A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
