A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
