An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
