An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
