A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds 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 access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
