A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
