An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
