A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
