A man who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
