An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
