A person who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
