A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
