A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'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 participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
