A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
