An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the police once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
