An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
