A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
