An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
