An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
