An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
