A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the police a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
