An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
