An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
