A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
