A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
