A person who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
