A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
