A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
