A man who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.