An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.
