An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
