A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
