A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
