A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
