An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
