A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
