A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
