A man who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
