A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
