A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man 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 prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
