A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
