A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
