A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
