A man who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
