A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
