A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
