A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
