A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
