A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
