A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
