A person who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
