An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
