A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
