An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
