A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
