An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
