An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
