An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
