An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
