An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
