A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill 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 suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
