A person who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms 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 young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
