A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
