A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
