An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
