A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "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 following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
