A man who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
