An individual who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
