An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
