A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.
