An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
