A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
