An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
