A man who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
