An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
