A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police again.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
