A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
