A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
