An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
