An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
