A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
