An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
