A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
