A person who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up 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 was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.