A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
