An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
