A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
