An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
