A man who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
