An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
