A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
