A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
