A man who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
