A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
