A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
