A person who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, 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 told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
