A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
