A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
