A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
