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A person who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.

Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.

The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.

Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.

"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.

She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.

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

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the events.

The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.

She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.