An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
