A person who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
