A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "treat 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 stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
