A man who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
