A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters 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 suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
