A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
