A person who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
