An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
