A person who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
