A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
