A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
