An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She stated the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
