A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness 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 family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She explained the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
