A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
