An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the police again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
