A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
