An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
