An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
