A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
