An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
