A person who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
