A person who laced candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
