A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
