A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police again.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
