A person who laced treats with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
