A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
