A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
