A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel 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 told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
