An individual who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
