A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
