An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
