An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill 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 one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
