A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
