An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
