An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
