A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
