A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
