A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
