A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
