An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
