A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
