An individual who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
