An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
