A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
