A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.