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An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.

The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.

The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.

She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.

"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."

The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.

She stated the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.

The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.

She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.