A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
