An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
