A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
