A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.