A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
