A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
