An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
