A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
