A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
