A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
