A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
