A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
