A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
