A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
