A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
