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An individual who laced candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.

However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.

The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".

She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."

The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.

She explained the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the police a second time.

She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.