A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
