A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
