An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
