An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.