A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
