An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.