A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
