An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
