An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
