A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
