A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
