An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
