An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
