A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
