A man who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained 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.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
