A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
