An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
