An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
