An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
