A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
