A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
