A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
