A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
