A person who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
