A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
