A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
