A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
