A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
