An individual who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
