A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
