A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
