A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
