An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
