A person who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
