A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
