An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
