A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.