A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
