A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
