A person who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
