A man who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
