An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
