A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
