An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
