A person who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated 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 children, the legal counsel stated, 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 informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a space of five children.
