A person who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
