A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
