A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
