An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
