A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
