A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
