A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
