An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
