A person who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
