A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
