A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
