A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
