An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
