A man who contaminated treats with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
