A person who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
