An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
