A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
