An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
