A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.