A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
