A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
