A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
