A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
