A person who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
