A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
