A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
