An individual who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
