An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
