A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
