A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
