A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
