A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
