A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
