A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
