A person who laced candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
