A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
