A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
