An individual who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
