A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
