An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
