A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
