A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the police once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
