An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
