A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
