An individual who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
