A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
