A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
