A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
