A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
