A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
