A person who spiked candy with sedative and distributed 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 taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
