A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
