A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
