A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
