An individual who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
