A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
