A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
