A person who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
