A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
