A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
