A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
