A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
