A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
